▼30%
£53,756
Avg. Base Salary (GBP)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (GBP)
10%
£44k
MEDIAN
£54k
90%
£69k
The average salary for a Principal Scientist is £53,756 in 2025
Base Salary
£44k - £69k
Bonus
£2k - £11k
Total Pay
£48k - £76k
Is Average Principal Scientist with Biotechnology Skills Salary in United Kingdom your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Principal Scientists?
What Do Principal Scientists Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Principal Scientist
Medical
77%
Dental
38%
Vision
15%
None
15%
Gender Breakdown for Principal Scientists
Male
70.0%
Female
30.0%
This data is based on 10 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Principal Scientists
What is the highest pay for Principal Scientists?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Scientist is £69k / year
What is the lowest pay for Principal Scientists?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Scientist is £44k / year
How can Principal Scientists increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Principal Scientist is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Principal Scientist that oversees more junior Principal Scientists, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.